Loblolly Pine Cones	Longleaf Pine Cones
Tulip Poplar	American Red Cedar
Sassafras	Magnolia
Holly	Post Oak
Willow Oak

Loblolly Pine Cones Top Of Page

• Color: Glossy caramel or reddish-brown.
• Prickles: Weak, positioned further down the scale.
• Persistence: Generally drop their seeds within the same year and don’t remain on the tree for extended periods.
• Shape: Egg-shaped, 3-7 inches long. 
• Needles: Slash pines have needles in bundles of two or three. 
• Bark: Slash pine bark is more reddish-brown with scaly plates. 

Longleaf Pine Cones Top Of Page

• Size: Longleaf pine cones are large, typically ranging from 6 to 12 inches in length. 
• Shape: They are slightly curved and have a robust structure. 
• Scales:The scales of the cone are armed with small, curved prickles. These prickles are a key identification feature, bending downwards towards the base of the cone. 
• Needles:Longleaf pine needles are long, typically 8 to 12 inches, and are clustered in groups of three. 
• Bark:The bark of a longleaf pine tree is typically thick and has an orange-brown appearance, especially on older trees. 

American Red Cedar Top Of Page

• Leaves: Eastern red cedar has two types of leaves. Young trees and new growth on mature trees have sharp, awl-shaped leaves, while mature trees have small, scale-like leaves that closely hug the stems. 
• Bark: The bark is thin, reddish-brown, and peels off in long, shreddy strips. 
• Cones: The tree produces small, bluish-green, berry-like cones (actually modified cones) that are popular with birds and other wildlife. 

Sassafras Top Of Page

Sassafras trees are known for their aromatic properties and distinctive leaf shapes. They are medium-sized, deciduous trees with a flat-topped, irregular crown. A key characteristic is their leaves, which can be oval, mitten-shaped, or three-lobed, and have a spicy fragrance when crushed. The bark of mature trees is reddish-brown and deeply furrowed. 

• Leaves: Sassafras leaves are alternate and simple, and can be oval, mitten-shaped (with one lobe), or three-lobed. They are 3-6 inches long and 2-4 inches wide. The leaves turn brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow in the fall. 
• Bark: Young sassafras trees have greenish-gray bark, which becomes deeply furrowed and reddish-brown as the tree matures. 
• Twigs: The twigs are slender, green, and smooth, with a spicy aroma when crushed. 
• Flowers: Sassafras trees are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are on separate trees. They are small, greenish-yellow, and appear in early spring. 
• Fruit: Female trees produce dark blue, berry-like fruits on bright red stalks. 
• Wood: The wood is soft, brittle, and orange-brown. 
• Habitat: Sassafras trees are commonly found in roadsides, old fields, and woods. They typically grow 30-50 feet tall, but can reach up to 80 feet. 
• Aromatic Properties: The crushed leaves, twigs, and bark of sassafras have a distinctive spicy or fruity aroma. 

Magnolia Top Of Page

• Size and Shape: Magnolia flowers are typically large and striking, with some species producing saucer-shaped blooms up to 12 inches across, according to the Davey Tree Expert Company. They can be star-shaped or bowl-shaped, like tulips. 
• Color: Colors vary by species and cultivar, with white and pink being the most common, but also including purple, yellow, and even green. 
• Fragrance: Many magnolia species have a sweet, often intoxicating fragrance. 
• Structure: The flowers have tepals, which are undifferentiated petal and sepal structures, rather than distinct petals and sepals. 
• Blooming Period: Magnolias typically bloom in the spring, with some species blooming throughout the summer. 

Leaves:

• Shape and Texture: Magnolia leaves are generally oval to elliptical, with a smooth margin. They can be shiny and leathery (evergreen species) or softer and deciduous. 
• Arrangement: Leaves are typically alternate on the branches. 
• Persistence: Some species are evergreen, retaining their leaves for a couple of years, while others are deciduous. 

Bark:  Magnolia bark is typically smooth and brown or grey when young, becoming scaly with age. 

Holly Top Of Page

Holly trees can live for up to 300 years. Its bark is smooth with lots of brown ‘warts’. Its dark, glossy leaves can be seen all year-round. White flowers with four petals bloom in early spring.

Blackjack Oak Top Of Page

Bark: The bark is a distinguishing feature, appearing dark, rough, and deeply furrowed, resembling alligator hide. The plates are often square or rectangular in shape. 

Leaves: The leaves are alternate, simple, and have a distinctive shape, being wider at the tip than the base. They are typically 3-lobed, with bristle-tipped lobes, and are leathery and often retain their color through the winter. 

Growth Habit: Blackjack oak is typically a small to medium-sized tree, reaching heights of 20-50 feet, but it can be shrubby or have a more tree-like form depending on the site. It tends to have a rounded crown and may retain dead branches along the trunk. 

Acorns: The acorns are small, typically 1/2 to 1 inch long, with a turban-shaped cap that covers about one-third to one-half of the nut. 

Post Oak Top Of Page

• Leaves: Deciduous, simple, and alternate, typically with 5 lobes, where the middle pair forms a distinctive cross or “T” shape. 
• Bark: Gray, irregularly grooved, with narrow ridges that can resemble an “alligator hide”. 
• Acorns: Small, with light gray caps that have tight scales and are firmly attached to the twig. 

Willow Oak Top Of Page

• Leaves: Simple, alternate, and narrowly elliptical, resembling willow leaves. They are 2-5 inches long and 1/3 to 1 inch wide. 
• Bark: Smooth, light reddish-brown on young trees, becoming dark gray with rough, scale-covered plates on older trees. 
• Flowers: Willow oak has separate male and female flowers on the same tree. 
• Fruit: Acorns, small and globe-shaped, about 1/2 inch long, enclosed by a shallow, saucer-like cap. 
• Fall Color: Leaves turn a muted yellow to brown in the fall. 

Tulip Poplar Top Of Page

Leaves: 

• Shape: The leaves are distinctive, with a roughly square or tulip-like shape, typically having four lobes.
• Size: They can grow up to 8 inches across.
• Color: They are bright green during the growing season and turn a clear, golden yellow in the fall.
• Texture: The leaves are smooth and glossy.

Bark:

• Young trees: The bark is smooth and dark green. 
• Mature trees: It develops into a gray-brown color with deep furrows and ridges.